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Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announce that defendant Samuel George Brown, 49, of Fort Pierce, pled guilty today to charges of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c); and possessing a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(k).

Sentencing is scheduled for March 6, 2014 before U.S. District Judge Donald Graham in Fort Pierce, Florida. At sentencing, Brown faces a possible maximum statutory sentence of up to five years in prison, on the charge of possessing a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number; to be followed by a mandatory minimum five years consecutive sentence for the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to statements made in open court and documents filed in the case, Brown was a dealer selling marijuana from his house in Fort Pierce. Following two separate drug sales by Brown to confidential informants working with local law enforcement, on June 8, 2013, officers obtained and executed a search warrant for Brown’s home. On arrival, the officers found on the kitchen counter, alongside marijuana, packaging material, and electronic scales for measuring drug sales, and a loaded Hi-Point .380 caliber handgun. The serial number on the .380 caliber handgun had been obliterated. In a post arrest interview, Brown admitted to keeping the handgun for his personal protection as part of his drug sales business.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ATF and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, together with the Fort Pierce Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Cooperstein.